• Net profit recovered considerably from the challenging second half of 2018, driven by a strong sequential increase in asset valuations and gross margin.
  • The CHF 100 million cost-reduction programme initiated at the start of 2019 is on track. The resulting gross cost savings are expected to start materialising partly in the financial results for the second half of 2019 and fully in 2020. The Group recorded CHF 17 million of one-off redundancy costs related to the programme in the first half of 2019.
  • IFRS net profit attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. CHF 343 million and earnings per share CHF 1.58, an improvement of 18% from H2 2018, a decrease of 23% from H1 2018.
  • Adjusted1 net profit for the Group CHF 391 million, an increase of 18% compared to H2 2018, down 19% from H1 2018.
  • Adjusted EPS attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. CHF 1.79, up 18% from H2 2018, down 18% from H1 2018.
  • Assets under management2 (AuM) CHF 412 billion, up CHF 30 billion, or 8%, from the end of 2018, supported by net new money2 of CHF 6.2 billion, or 3.2% annualised.
  • Gross margin3 83.2 basis points (bp), up 3.6 bp from H2 2018, down 8.2 bp from H1 2018, as client transaction volumes continued to recover from the significant decline experienced in H2 2018.
  • Adjusted cost/income ratio4 71.0%, a clear improvement from 74.3% in H2 2018, up from 67.3% in H1 2018.
  • Adjusted pre-tax margin5 23.0 bp, up 3.1 bp from H2 2018, down 6.8 bp from H1 2018.
  • Adjusted return on CET1 capital6 28%, up from 24% in H2 2018, down from 36% in H1 2018.
  • BIS CET1 capital ratio 13.1%, up from 12.8% at the end of 2018, and BIS total capital ratio 20.7%, well above the minimum regulatory requirements and the Group’s own floors.

Bernhard Hodler, Chief Executive Officer of Julius Baer Group Ltd., said: “Profitability has markedly improved compared to the second half of 2018, as we saw client activity and asset valuations recover substantially. The cost-reduction programme we initiated earlier this year is on track, and we will see its effects materialise in the coming months and throughout 2020, as targeted. At the same time, we have made targeted investments in the future of our business. Julius Baer is in excellent shape, thanks to the dedication and relentless work of our staff. And I am convinced that, with Philipp Rickenbacher being appointed as my successor, I am leaving the Group in very good hands.”

AuM up 8% since year-end 2018, supported by a strong recovery in global stock markets

Assets under management ended the first six months of 2019 at CHF 412 billion, an increase of CHF 30 billion, or 8%, since the end of 2018. The growth in AuM was helped by a strong recovery in global stock markets, as well as net new money of CHF 6.2 billion and the first-time consolidation of NSC Asesores in Mexico, which added CHF 3 billion. The strengthening Swiss franc had a slightly negative impact on AuM.

While the annualised net new money growth rate7 of 3.2% was below the Group’s medium-term target range (4–6%), it moved closer to the target in the last quarter. Excluding Kairos, net inflows developed at a satisfactory level inside the targeted range, driven by solid inflows from clients domiciled in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. However, these net inflows were partly offset by net outflows from Kairos funds (following a decline in fund performance in 2018; in H1 2019 the performance improved again). The Group’s net new money was also negatively impacted to some extent by a limited number of client exits in the context of the ongoing client risk review project (which is nearing completion), as well as by modest outflows following a wider application of negative interest rates to large cash holdings in affected currencies, mainly Swiss francs and euros.

Including assets under custody2 of CHF 67 billion, total client assets2 grew by 8% from year-end 2018 to CHF 479 billion.

Operating income development impacted by transaction volumes and cost of deposits

Operating income was CHF 1,699 million, a decrease of 5% versus H1 2018. Compared to the second half of 2018, operating income grew by 8%. As monthly average AuM increased to CHF 408 billion (up 4% year-on-year and 3% versus H2 2018), the gross margin came to 83.2 bp, a decline versus H1 2018 (91.5 bp), but an improvement from H2 2018 (79.6 bp).

Net commission and fee income decreased by 6% year-on-year to CHF 956 million. This decline was driven mainly by lower client transaction activity compared to the first half of 2018, and to a lesser extent by modest fee pressure on discretionary mandates and a lower contribution from Kairos.

Net interest and dividend income declined by 7% year-on-year to CHF 515 million. It included CHF 162 million of dividend income on trading portfolios, up 2% year-on-year. Excluding this item, underlying net interest and dividend income decreased by 10% to CHF 354 million. Underlying net interest income benefitted from an increase in interest income on loans (driven by higher US interest rates) and interest income on debt instruments at FVOCI8 (following an increase in investments of excess deposits into the Group’s treasury portfolio, at higher rates). However, this benefit was more than offset by an increase in interest expense on amounts due to customers.

Net trading income decreased by 4% year-on-year to CHF 197 million. Including the dividend income related to trading portfolios, underlying net trading income declined by 2% to CHF 359 million.

Other ordinary results (which, among other items, includes income from associates, rental income, and net gains/losses from the disposal of investments from the financial assets portfolio) grew by CHF 14 million year-on-year to CHF 28 million.

Net credit recoveries on financial assets improved from close to zero in H1 2018 to CHF 3 million.

Operating expenses development Adjusted cost/income ratio 71.0%

Operating expenses according to IFRS rose by 3% year-on-year to CHF 1,281 million. This was driven by a 1% decrease in personnel expenses to CHF 835 million (despite the inclusion of CHF 17 million of one-off redundancy costs related to the cost-reduction programme), a 1% increase in general expenses to CHF 324 million, a 22% increase in amortisation to CHF 74 million and a 163% increase in depreciation to CHF 49 million. The first-time application of IFRS 16 (Leases) resulted effectively in a shift of CHF 31 million from general expenses to depreciation. Compared to the second half of 2018, IFRS operating expenses grew by 4%.

As in previous years, in the analysis and discussion of the results in the Media Release and the Business Review, adjusted operating expenses exclude acquisition-related integration and restructuring expenses (CHF 9 million, H1 2018: CHF 4 million, H2 2018: CHF 6 million) as well as the acquisition-related amortisation of intangible assets (CHF 43 million, H1 2018: CHF 36 million, H2 2018: CHF 37 million).

Compared to the first half of 2018, adjusted operating expenses increased by 2% to CHF 1,229 million, as the 2% decrease year-on-year in adjusted personnel expenses, to CHF 833 million, and the unchanged adjusted general expenses of CHF 317 million were more than offset by a 163% increase in adjusted depreciation to CHF 49 million, and a 27% increase in adjusted amortisation to CHF 31 million. Compared to the second half of 2018, adjusted operating expenses increased by 4%.

At 6,768 full-time equivalents (FTEs), personnel has risen by 2%, or 125 FTEs, in the twelve months since 30 June 2018, and by 1%, or 75 FTEs, in the six months since the end of 2018. This included 55 FTEs following the first-time consolidation of NSC Asesores in March 2019. Compared to the first half of 2018, the monthly average number of employees grew by 5% to 6,780. At the end of June 2019, the Group employed 1,490 relationship managers (RMs), including 20 at NSC Asesores. This represents an increase of 15 RMs since 30 June 2018 and a decrease of 11 RMs since the end of 2018.

Despite the 5% rise year-on-year in average staff levels and the inclusion of CHF 17 million of one-off severance costs related to the cost-reduction programme, adjusted personnel expenses declined by 2% year-on-year to CHF 833 million, following a decrease in performance-related remuneration.

Adjusted general expenses were unchanged year-on-year at CHF 317 million, despite a CHF 20 million increase in provisions and losses (to CHF 22 million) but helped by the first-time application of IFRS 16 (Leases).

Depreciation grew by 163% year-on-year to CHF 49 million, mainly as a consequence of IFRS 16 (Leases), and adjusted amortisation rose by 27% to CHF 31 million. The growth in adjusted amortisation mainly reflects the rise in IT-related investments in recent years, including the completion in 2018 of the new core banking system in Singapore and Hong Kong.

As a result, the Group achieved an adjusted cost/income ratio4 of 71.0% (H1 2018: 67.3%, H2 2018: 74.3%).

Cost-reduction programme on track

As announced last February, while continuing its strategic growth investments, Julius Baer has put in place a CHF 100 million gross cost-reduction programme which encompasses a number of structural measures, including a decrease in the Group’s headcount by a net 2% between the end of 2018 and the end of 2019. The execution of this programme is on track, and the results from these structural cost reductions are expected to start materialising partly in the second half of 2019 and fully in the 2020 financial results, with the reconfirmed aim to reduce the adjusted cost/income ratio below 68% in 2020 ‒ assuming no meaningful deterioration relative to the 2018 average market conditions.

Net profit recovered significantly from H2 2018

IFRS profit before taxes declined by 23% year-on-year to CHF 418 million. As income taxes were 24% lower at CHF 75 million, net profit for the Group as well as net profit attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. decreased by 23% to CHF 343 million, and EPS also by 23% to CHF 1.58. Compared to the second half of 2018, IFRS profit before taxes grew by 19%, and net profit and EPS by 18%.

Adjusted profit before taxes of CHF 470 million represented a drop of 19% year-on-year (but an increase of 19% compared to H2 2018), resulting in an adjusted pre-tax margin of 23.0 bp (H1 2018: 29.8 bp, H2 2018: 19.9 bp). The related income taxes were CHF 79 million, corresponding to a tax rate of 16.9% (H1 2018: 17.7%, H2 2018: 16.3%).

Adjusted net profit for the Group came to CHF 391 million, a decrease of 19% year-on-year (but an improvement of 18% compared to H2 2018). Adjusted EPS attributable to shareholders was CHF 1.79, a decline of 18% from H1 2018 (but an increase of 18% compared to H2 2018).

The adjusted return on CET1 capital was 28% (H1 2018: 36%, H2 2018: 24%).

Balance sheet: Lombard credit volume up 4% year to date

Since the end of 2018, total assets increased by 1% to CHF 104 billion. Loans grew by 3% to CHF 47 billion − comprising over CHF 37 billion of Lombard loans (+4%) and over CHF 9 billion of mortgages (-1%). As the due to customers position (deposits) declined by 1% to CHF 71 billion, the loan-to-deposit ratio9 went up to 66% (end of 2018: 63%). Equity attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd. grew by 1% to CHF 6.1 billion.

Solid capital position CET1 ratio 13.1%

Since the end of 2018, BIS CET1 capital increased by 4% to CHF 2.8 billion. In June 2019, the Group placed CHF 350 million of perpetual Additional Tier 1 (AT1) subordinated bonds with a coupon of 2.375%. As a result of the increase in BIS CET1 capital and the AT1 bond issue, BIS tier 1 capital grew by 12% to CHF 4.4 billion and BIS total capital by 13% to CHF 4.5 billion.

As risk-weighted assets went up by 2% to CHF 21.7 billion, the BIS CET1 capital ratio rose to 13.1% (compared to 12.8% at the end of 2018) and the BIS total capital ratio to 20.7% (up from 18.7% at the end of 2018). The leverage exposure grew by 1% to CHF 103 billion, resulting in the Tier 1 leverage ratio rising to 4.3% (compared to 3.9% at the end of 2018).

At these levels, the Group continues to be solidly capitalised: the CET1 and total capital ratios remain well above the Group’s own floors of 11% and 15% and significantly in excess of the regulatory minimums of 8.2% and 12.4%, respectively, while the Tier 1 leverage ratio is comfortably above the 3.0% regulatory minimum.

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1 The adjusted results as presented and commented in this Media Release and in the Business Review are derived by excluding from the total operating expenses in the reviewed IFRS financial statements the integration and restructuring expenses as well as the amortisation of intangible assets related to previous acquisitions or divestments.

2 For the definition of assets under management, net new money, and client assets, please refer to the Annual Report 2018, pp. 197 and 198. Assets under custody are those client assets that are not assets under management.

3 Annualised total operating income divided by monthly average assets under management.

4 Total operating expenses divided by total operating income; calculated using adjusted operating expenses (as defined in footnote 1), excluding provisions and losses.

5 Annualised adjusted profit before taxes (using adjusted operating expenses as defined in footnote 1), divided by monthly average assets under management.

6 Annualised adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders of Julius Baer Group Ltd., divided by the average of CET1 capital at the start of the period and at the end of the period.

7 Annualised net new money as a percentage of assets under management at the end of the previous year.

8 Fair value through other comprehensive income.

9 The loans position divided by the due to customers position.

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Please note the disclaimer regarding forward-looking statements in the attached media release PDF.
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The results conference will be webcast at 9:30 a.m. (CEST).

Important dates

19 November 2019: Publication of ten-month Interim Management Statement
3 February 2020: Publication and presentation of 2019 full-year results, Zurich
23 March 2020: Publication of Annual Report 2019
16 April 2020: Annual General Meeting 2020, Zurich